Judgment copies should be accessible, digitally signed; courts should avoid uploading scanned copies of judgments: Supreme Court

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The Supreme Court has asked Courts and tribunals to avoid uploading on their websites scanned versions of printed copies of their judgments [State Bank of India and anr vs Ajay Kumar Sood].

A Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna said that judicial institutions should ensure that judgment copies uploaded are accessible and signed using digital signatures.

"Courts and tribunals must also ensure that the version of the judgments and orders uploaded is accessible and signed using digital signatures. They should not be scanned versions of printed copies," the Court said.

The practice of printing and scanning documents is a futile and time-consuming process which does not serve any purpose, the Court added.

"The practice should be eradicated from the litigation process as it tends to make documents as well as the process inaccessible for an entire gamut of citizens."